Fair Voting, Gerrymandering and the Current Political Crisis
The
political pundits and editorial writers have argued pro and con over the role
of gerrymandering in the political stalemates that have clogged the ability of
Congress to pass more than the most worthless of bills over the past several
years. But taking the position that it is not at the least a factor is either
naïve or self-serving or both.
Simply
put, allowing the polity party with the most influence in a particular state to
redraw congressional districts to benefit itself and ensure the safe seats of a
fellow traveler even if it means drawing a district that resembles a Rorschach
ink blot following each census is undue influence, unfair competition, and
adverse to the principles a republican government. (the form of government- not
the party) [Repeat after me….the USA is not a democracy! The USA is a
republic!]
Voting
districts should be drawn by non-partisan, independent committees using
reasonable boundaries based upon geographical and population data that does not
factor in political affiliation, ethnicity, socio-economic condition, favorite
hockey team or hair color.
No
member of Congress should be assured of re-election when the districts are
re-drawn. This creates the aura of invincibility in a member of Congress that
is unhealthy to the founders of our nation. Nobody should be assured of
re-election. This is the antithesis to a government of the people, by the
people and for the people. Instead, it is a government formed by elitists that
want to hold onto power – not unlike the monarchy that our ancestors fought to
separate from.
Unfortunately,
most of our politicians do not have the incentive to change the status quo. And
we, as docile sheep, have enabled their bad behavior. As long as we the people
continue to accept this business as usual, it will continue.
Change
starts at home. Gerrymandering can be stopped at the state level. But passionate
believers in the sanctity of the Constitution, fair elections that result in
every individual who is eligible to vote having his or her say, and our
American way of life must take a stand and speak out. We the people have
allowed weasels to lead us, stymie our growth, cause us to lose our standing in
the international community, and slide down that slippery slope to irrelevancy.
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